Sighting device

ABSTRACT

A sighting device has an illuminating device for making a colored target available. A brightness sensor ( 23 ) is assigned to the illuminating device ( 6 ) for detecting the brightness in the target region and a programmable control unit ( 15 ) is provided via which the operation of the sighting device can be adjusted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a sighting device wherein illuminationis provided for making a colored target mark available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A beam-spot target device is disclosed in an article entitled“Der springende Punkt” in the publication “Visier”, No. 6, (1991). Thered beam spot of the beam-spot target device assumes the task of therear sight and the front sight. The shooter only has to direct the redspot onto the target and pull the trigger. Eye spacing, focusing orcentering of the graticule as in a telescopic sight become unnecessarybecause of a different operation in a beam-spot target device.

[0003] This beam-spot target device includes an automaticlight-intensity controller so that a clearly outlined point having thesize of a two-mark coin can be seen on a 25 m disc in bright sunshine.In twilight, the red beam spot of the beam-spot sighting device becomesa shining star in a disadvantageous manner. This star could cover thebase of a beer can.

[0004] European Patent 0,651,225 discloses a sighting device with whicha colored target is imaged in the eye of the person sighting. Thesighting device includes a light source which includes a luminescentmaterial. Furthermore, the sighting device has an additional lightsource, which can be switched in, and a sensor. The sensor is so mountedthat it is irradiated by natural light in an undisturbed manner. Thein-switchable light source is operated at maximum power when highintensity of the natural light is detected. The brightness of the targetmark is fixedly pregiven in dependence upon the detected brightness ofthe surroundings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a sighting devicewhich is improved in such a manner that the nature of the target markand the operation of the sighting device can be adapted to theindividual needs of the person sighting.

[0006] The sighting device of the invention includes: an illuminatingdevice for providing a colored target mark; and, a programmable controlunit for adjusting the operation of the sighting device.

[0007] It is possible to adapt the operation of the sighting device tothe needs of the person sighting by providing the sighting device with aprogrammable control unit.

[0008] It has been shown that different persons sighting perceivedifferent degrees of brightness of the target as pleasing. By providingthe programmable control unit, it is now possible to adapt thebrightness of the target to the person sighting.

[0009] A base brightness can be inputted. Furthermore, it can beadditionally provided that the person sighting can pregive a brightnessrange wherein the brightness of the target mark varies, for example ±25%or ±20% with reference to the base brightness.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the person sighting can select theform of the target mark by means of the programmable control unit.

[0011] Furthermore, it can be provided that the person sighting canpreset so that an illumination is automatically switched off after apredetermined time such as 8, 15, 30 minutes or a few hours. As theprogrammable control unit, this illumination is provided as a componentof the illuminating device and is for the illumination of the targetmark.

[0012] It has been shown to be especially advantageous that theillumination of the sighting device is automatically switched off by thecontrol unit when non-use of the sighting device is detected. Thenon-use can, for example, be detected by a constant value of abrightness sensor for detecting the brightness in the region of thetarget or by a motion sensor.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, an actuating element (preferably apress button) is provided by means of which the illumination of thetarget mark can be again activated.

[0014] It has been shown to be advantageous that the ambient light isused for the illumination of the target mark whereby the energyrequirement of the illuminated target mark can be considerably reduced.For example, a solar cell or a light source containing luminescentmaterial is suitable. The illuminating device is further provided withan additional energy source or a further light source so that the wantedtarget mark brightness can always be adjusted.

[0015] A luminescent diode has been shown to be especially suitable asan additional light source and a battery has been shown to be especiallysuitable as an additional energy source. The use of a rechargeablebattery leads to a further reduction of the energy requirement of thesighting device because the battery can be recharged by means of thesolar cell.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the sighting device, an input unitis provided via which the data can be read into the control deviceespecially by the person sighting.

[0017] It has also been shown to be advantageous to use a brightnesssensor as the input.

[0018] Desired data can be read in via different light signals to whichdifferent meanings are assigned in the control unit. The generation ofcorresponding light patterns can, for example, take place by means of anoperator-controlled element which works in the manner of a remotecontrol. It can also be provided that an LED is correspondingly drivenby a PC for supplying the predetermined light sequences. The input ofthe data into the programmable control unit via the brightness sensoraffords the advantage that no additional component is required whichcontributes to a cost savings. A further advantage is that the sightingdevice has a closed housing and therefore a dirtying of the input unitin the context of a use of the sighting device cannot occur.

[0019] Furthermore, it has been shown to be advantageous to input thedata into the programmable control unit by means of induction. Thesignals, which are required for such a data transmission, can begenerated very simply by applying current/voltage to a coil. The closedoff nature of the sighting device can be maintained even with this typeof transmission.

[0020] The input of data via a card (which is pulled through aslot-shaped input unit) is, however, also possible especially when anintense dirtying of the sighting device is not anticipated during use.

[0021] As an advantageous method for operating the sighting device, ithas been shown that the illumination is driven by the programmablecontrol device in dependence upon the detected brightness in the regionof the target. It can be sufficient to drive the illuminating deviceonly by means of the ambient brightness for making available the targetmark with the corresponding brightness. However, it can also benecessary to switch in an additional energy source or light source tosupplement the ambient brightness or to switch over to the additionallight source or energy source.

[0022] It has been shown to be advantageous that a photodiode can beprovided as a brightness sensor which, in the context of themanufacturing process of the sighting device, is standardized in thatthe brightness sensor is irradiated with known light intensities. Inthis way, the scattering of the photodiodes can be compensated. Thesignals, which belong to the respective light intensities, can be storedin the control unit.

[0023] It is, however, possible to assign a separate storage medium tothe sensor by means of which a standardization of the values, which arestored by the sensor, is undertaken. The control unit can then besupplied with standardized signals.

[0024] It has been further shown to be advantageous to undertake astandardization of the entire apparatus in that a scene of knownbrightness is viewed via the sighting device and the brightness of thetarget mark is detected by means of a sensor mounted at the location ofthe eye of the viewer and the values, which are detected by this sensor,are supplied to the programmable control unit so long until the detectedbrightness of the target mark corresponds to a predetermined standardvalue. Preferably, various standard values for different brightnesses ofthe scene are predetermined. In this way, it can be ensured in a simpleand cost effective manner that all sighting devices exhibit the samebasic characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings wherein:

[0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic of a sighting device according to anembodiment of the invention; and,

[0027]FIG. 2 is a schematic of a reflex sighting device according toanother embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The sighting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with aprogrammable control unit 15 which is a component of an illuminatingarrangement 5. The sighting device 1 includes an illuminating device 6for making available an illuminated target mark 7 as disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/708,180, filed Nov. 7, 2000, incorporatedherein by reference. This illuminating device 6 includes a luminousdiode 10 which is mounted at the center of a cover glass 8. In thesighting device shown in FIG. 1, the lenses mounted in the sightingdevice are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0029] The target mark can also be provided by means of a cover glass. Arecess is introduced into the cover glass which appears as a target markwhen the cover glass is peripherally illuminated. Such a peripheralillumination can be especially made available by luminescent material.Furthermore, a luminescent diode can be provided as a light source for aperipheral illumination.

[0030] In this embodiment, a solar cell 29 is provided via which the LED10 can be driven. The LED 10 is mounted in the cover glass or on thecover glass 8. If the energy made available by the solar cell 29 is notsufficient for making available the target mark 7 with the desiredbrightness, then an additional battery 31 or batteries are used formaking available the target mark 7 at the desired brightness. Thebatteries can be additional or exclusively for the illumination of thetarget mark 7. In this embodiment, a rechargeable battery 31 isappropriate which can be recharged by the solar cell 29. The target mark7, which is generated in the desired brightness, is imaged into the eye19 of the person viewing.

[0031] For the detection of the brightness in the target region, apartially transmissive layer 27 is arranged on the optical axis 21 ofthe sighting device 1. With this layer 27, a fraction (for example, 1%of the incident radiation) is supplied to the photo sensor 25 used as abrightness sensor.

[0032] An input unit 17 is provided for the input of data into theprogrammable control unit 15. The data can be read in via the input unit17 by means of induction. With these data, the brightness and form ofthe target mark 7 can be matched to the individual requirements of theperson viewing. Furthermore, a time duration can be defined after whichthe illuminating device 6 of the target mark 7 is automatically switchedoff. Furthermore, a selection can be made as to whether the illuminatingdevice 6 is switched off only with a detected non-use. It can beactivated so that the brightness of the target mark can be varied in apredetermined sequence when the capacity of the battery is virtuallyexhausted or the voltage, which is made available by the battery, dropsbelow a predetermined threshold value.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a reflex sighting unit 3 wherein the target mark 7 isreflected into the eye of the person sighting. In this reflex sightingunit 3, an illuminating device 6 is provided which has a luminescentmaterial 33. The light obtained in this way is coupled into the reflexsighting unit via a light conductor 35. The illuminating device 6further includes a light source 9 which is operated by a battery 31. Thecolored light, which is outputted by the illuminating device 6, isreflected at a mirror 11 in the direction of a partially transmissiblemirror 13 which is reflectant at the wavelength of the light of thetarget mark 7. This partially reflecting mirror 13 is mounted on a lensarranged at the object end in the reflex sighting unit. Further lenses,which are provided in the reflex sighting unit are not shown for reasonsof clarity. The light, which is reflected by the partially-transmissiblemirror 13, is reflected into the eye 19 of the person sighting.

[0034] A brightness sensor 23 is provided for sensing the brightness inthe region of the target. The values, which are generated by thisbrightness sensor 23, are supplied to a programmable control unit 15 viawhich, inter alia, the light source 9 can be driven. A sensor 24 for thedetection of the light production from the luminescent material is alsoprovided and this sensor likewise is in signal connection with theprogrammable control unit 15. A determination is made in theprogrammable control unit 15 in dependence upon the values of thesensors (23, 24) as to whether the drive of the additional light source9 is necessary in order to be able to make the target available with thedesired brightness.

[0035] The brightness sensor 23 is utilized as an input unit forinputting data into the control unit 15.

[0036] However, a separate input unit 17′ can also be provided which hasthe form of a slot or a connector. To prevent a dirtying of this inputunit 17′, the input unit is provided with a closure 18 which can beremoved for inputting data.

[0037] If the input unit 17′ is configured to have a slot shape, thenthe data of the control unit 15 can be read in in that a card ormagnetic card is introduced through the slot.

[0038] With the reading in of data, it is possible to undertake anadaptation of the sighting device to the needs of the person sighting asdescribed already with respect to FIG. 1.

[0039] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of thepreferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes andmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sighting device comprising: an illuminatingdevice for providing a colored target mark; and, a programmable controlunit for adjusting the operation of the sighting device.
 2. The sightingdevice of claim 1, further comprising a brightness sensor connected tosaid control unit for detecting brightness in the region of the target.3. The sighting device of claim 1, wherein said illuminating device issignal connected to said control unit; said illuminating device includesmeans for operating the same utilizing ambient light; and, saidilluminating device further including an additional energy source orlight source.
 4. The sighting device of claim 2, further comprising aninput unit via which data is read into said control unit.
 5. Thesighting device of claim 2, wherein data is supplied to said controlunit via said brightness sensor.
 6. The sighting device of claim 1,wherein data is supplied to said control unit via induction.
 7. Thesighting device of claim 2, wherein the form of the target mark isselected from the data read into said control unit.
 8. The sightingdevice of claim 1, wherein the brightness of said target mark is adaptedto the requirements of the person utilizing said sighting device via theinput of data.
 9. The sighting device of claim 1, further comprisingmeans for activating a function via input of data which functionindicates the exhaustion of an additional energy source or a drop belowa predetermined minimum voltage.
 10. The sighting device of claim 1,wherein a function is activated from inputted data so that saidilluminating device for illuminating said target mark is switched offafter a predetermined time span.
 11. The sighting device of claim 10,wherein an operator-controlled element is provided for activating saidilluminating device.
 12. A method for operating a sighting device whichincludes an illuminating device for providing a colored target mark;and, a programmable control unit for adjusting the operation of thesighting device; the method comprising the steps of: providing a programby inputting data into said control unit; and, operating said sightingdevice in accordance with said program.
 13. The method of claim 12,comprising the further step of causing said control unit to drive saidillumination device for providing the desired brightness of said targetmark.
 14. The method of claim 12, comprising the further step of causingsaid control unit to drive said illuminating device for providing thedesired form of said target mark.
 15. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid control unit drives the various energy sources and light sources tomake said target mark available with the desired brightness.
 16. Amethod for manufacturing a sighting device including an illuminationdevice for providing a colored target mark; and, a programmable controlunit for adjusting the operation of the sighting device; the methodcomprising the steps of: eliminating manufacturing scattering bysubjecting said sighting device to a known brightness or scene;detecting the brightness of the target mark utilizing a brightnesssensor mounted at the position of the eye of the person sighting;supplying this information to said programmable control unit to obtain avalue; and, adjusting said target mark to predetermined standardizedbrightness based on said value.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein themanufacturing scattering is eliminated based on several known degrees ofbrightness.